Hundreds of prisoners broken out of jail by Taliban fighters

Afghan national army soldiers stand guard in front of the main prison building after an attack in Ghazni province, eastern Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 14, 2015 AP Photo/Rahmatullah Nikzad

Taliban insurgents stormed a mud fort being used as a prison in Afghanistan, killing police and releasing more than 400 inmates before attacking troops rushing to help, officials said.

The latest Taliban prison raid, on the outskirts of the central city of Ghazni, comes after setbacks for the government in different parts of the country and deadly attacks in Kabul which have dashed hopes for peace talks.

A Reuters reporter outside the prison in Ghazni, 120 km (75 miles) southwest of the capital, Kabul, saw the bodies of two men who appeared to be suicide bombers and a blown-up car that had apparently been used to destroy the main entrance.

Mohammed Ali Ahmadi, deputy city governor, said more than 400 prisoners had escaped. About 80 had been recaptured and 352 were on the run, including about 150 Taliban.

Seven Taliban and four members of the security forces were killed in the attack, he said.

"Roads to the prison were covered with land mines in advance to avoid reinforcement," Mr Ahmadi told reporters.

"An army vehicle coming for reinforcements was blown up by a roadside bomb while trying to reach the prison."

Mr Ahmadi said the prison did not have heavy security because it was so close to Ghazni - only seven km (4.3 miles) from the city centre - and it was believed reinforcements would get there quickly in the event of trouble.

One security official said the attackers, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles, were wearing Afghan security force uniforms.